Monthly Archives: November 2014

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

Give a healthier gift this year! These savory roasted pecans are free of added sugar but full of flavor. Serving size is about 1/4 cup, so this recipe makes about 16 servings. Pack them into mason jars for festive and healthy holiday gifts!

Lightly adapted from this recipe.
Rosemary Sesame Pecans = Healthy homemade Christmas or holiday gift - low carb, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

Serves 16
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 25 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Snack
These savory roasted nuts make a healthy Christmas or holiday gift without all the added sugar of most holiday treats.

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (minced)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1lb pecan halves, raw (about 4 cups)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2
Whisk egg whites in a large bowl.
Step 3
Mix sesame seeds, rosemary, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 4
Add pecans to egg whites and stir to combine well. Add sesame seed mix and stir to distribute evenly.
Step 5
Spread pecans evenly on the baking sheets in a single layer. Bake 20-25 minutes until coating is dry.

Rosemary Sesame Pecans = Healthy homemade Christmas or holiday gift - low carb, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Chickpea Blondies

These blondies are made with pureed chickpeas and contain no flour. They are vegan, dairy-free, grain-free, and gluten-free, assuming you don’t use honey or chocolate chips with dairy. These blondies are moist and delicious, and no one will know that they are made from chickpeas! They would make an excellent healthier holiday gift.
Chickpea Blondies - healthier, vegan, grain free, gluten free, dairy free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Chickpea Blondies

Serves 9
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes
Total time 40 minutes
Meal type Dessert, Snack
These chickpea blondies are flour-less, gluten-free, dairy-free, and can be made 100% vegan.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tablespoon virgin coconut oil (for greasing)
  • 1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or agave (or honey, if not vegan)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/3 cup mini dark chocolate chips (look for vegan chocolate if you want 100% vegan or dairy-free blondies)
  • coarse sea salt or Himalayan salt (for sprinkling)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8x8 baking pan with coconut oil.
Step 2
In a food processor, puree all remaining ingredients except for chocolate chips and salt. Blend until completely smooth. Stir in chocolate chips, then spoon batter into prepared baking pan.
Step 3
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let cool, then cut into squares and sprinkle lightly with salt.

Chickpea Blondies - healthier, vegan, grain free, gluten free, dairy free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

Although Chipotle’s barbacoa is made with beef only, this recipe tastes very similar and just as delicious, even though it is beef and chicken. By including shredded chicken in this recipe, the impact on the environment and your health is lessened, and it creates longer strands than lean stew beef alone, making it seem more authentic and improving the texture.

You can make extra sauce and store it in the freezer to cut down on prep time the next time you make this dish. Thaw the sauce before using.

Adapted from this recipe.

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa - slow cooker lean beef and chicken - guesswhoscooking.com

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

Serves 8
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time 6 hours
Total time 6 hours, 20 minutes
Although Chipotle’s barbacoa is made with beef only, this recipe tastes very similar and just as delicious, even though it is beef and chicken. By including shredded chicken in this recipe, the impact on the environment and your health is lessened, and it creates longer strands than lean stew beef alone, making it seem more authentic and improving the texture.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1lb stew meat
  • 1-2lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (or about 3 cloves)
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoons black pepper

Directions

Step 1
Heat coconut in a large skillet (stainless steel or cast iron preferred) on medium-high, then add stew beef. Cook until sides are browned, then place into slow cooker. Add chicken to pan and brown, then place into slow cooker.
Step 2
To make adobo sauce, combine apple cider vinegar, lime juice, chipotle chlies, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cloves in food processor and blend until smooth.
Step 3
Pour adobo sauce over meat and add bay leaves and chicken broth. Cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
Step 4
Remove meat from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Combine with remaining liquid and serve.

Triple Sesame Cookies

These lower-sugar cookies contain 3 types of sesame – white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, and tahini, or ground sesame seeds. They have a strong sesame flavor and are slightly bitter, making them a delightfully unusual cookie! You can use only white sesame seeds if you can’t find black sesame seeds, which are often found in the international section of the grocery store.
Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies

These unique lower-sugar cookies use 3 types of sesame and are a delightfully unusual treat! These easy cookies are flourless, gluten-free, dairy-free, and lower-carb.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup tahini
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg (whisked)
  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 30 drops liquid stevia
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup black sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Combine tahini, sugar, egg, vanilla, white sesame seeds, and stevia. Stir well to combine.
Step 3
Place the black sesame seeds in a shallow dish. Scoop about 1/2-1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball, then roll in the black sesame seeds, or dip one side of the ball into the seeds. Place onto the cookie sheet and press down to flatten slightly. These cookies won't spread or rise, so they will maintain whatever shape you create now.
Step 4
Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until bottom edges are light golden brown. Remove from oven, and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com